6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Billy Wagner Surrenders

Beat me in the kitchen, and I'll beat you in the hall
There's nothing I love better than a free for all
To take your pretty neck and see which way it bends
But when it is all over we will still be friends
Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me

-- Elvis Costello, "Wave A White Flag"

So Billy Wagner has given up on the season. His team is seven and a half games back of the first place Nationals (and I'll give you a buck if you can find me a non-Nationals fan who would have predicted that before the season started). Though the Phils have had a few injuries, it hasn't been to key players in general (though Jim Thome was on the 15-day DL, Randy Wolf's scheduled Tommy John surgery makes him the first significant loss so far). No, the real problem has been sudden ineffectiveness from Jim Thome (.207/.360/.352 on the season) and simply awful pitching, worse, even, than the Dodgers, 12th in the National League at a staff 4.70 ERA. So Wagner has had enough:

"No chance," was his response when asked yesterday whether he thought the Phillies had what it takes to make the postseason.

"We ain't got a chance to get there right now."

"The know-how to win," he said. "You've got to know how to win before you can start thinking about playoffs.

"There are a lot of reasons to have faith. This ain't over. But anybody who says we have a clear shot to the playoffs right now is fooling themselves. We've got to win."

That's the kind of talk you hear from fans, not players, and it's just staggering, really. (Thanks to Swing And Miss for the link.)

Update: Jim Thome has just reentered the DL, with right elbow tendinitis.

Ghame Over, For Nhow

Yhency Brazoban talks about his new role today:

"I took the news very bad when I heard about Gagne because he's my compañero," Brazoban said of the closer undergoing season-ending surgery. "And you always feel good when your friends feel good. He's a true friend.

"Only God knows why it happened, but now, I have to try to do the best job I can."

Forgive the Dodgers if they grit their teeth every time Brazoban toes the rubber. Replacing 160 saves with such a greenhorn can be daunting.

As recently as last spring, after Brazoban came to the Dodgers with Jeff Weaver and Brandon Weeden from the New York Yankees in a Dec. 13, 2003, trade for Kevin Brown, Brazoban was penciled in for Class A and there was no thought of the right-hander spending any quality time in the major league clubhouse.

"The next thing I know, in July I'm hearing about this Brazoban guy," Manager Jim Tracy said. "And then he's our setup guy in the heat of a pennant race."

...

"I'm working a lot more now," he said. "I need to because it's a very big responsibility. Now, my whole focus is on three outs. Before, I'd work one or maybe two innings, six outs.

Brazoban, the life of the party? You bet:

"Quiet? Oh no," pitcher Odalis Perez said. "He's a crazy guy, like all the other Latino guys in here. We'll joke with him about the [A.J.] Pierzynski home run in Chicago and he'll smile and say, 'Don't bring that up.' "

Said Duaner Sanchez: "I told him, 'What, your neck hurt, looking back so much?' You've got to enjoy it, and he does."

Perez Rehab Game Goes Well

Odalis Perez's rehab game yesterday went well, going five innings and surrendering only a single hit; he walked one and struck out five for the 51's. Las Vegas won 6-0.

Part II Of Beane Interview

Here. A little ego stroking, and this time it's not in the direction you'd expect:

Blez: ...you're looking pretty smart right now choosing Zito as the lone remaining member of the Big Three. He's pitched great this year and I distinctly remember people criticizing you for keeping Zito instead of Hudson or Mulder. But you look at Hudson and he has the oblique problem and is on the DL again. And Mulder is still struggling with his consistency. Zito is sitting at 10th in the majors and I think fifth in the AL in batting average against. Do you feel a bit of vindication in this case?

Beane: No because you read far too much, Tyler. I just read you. I just read you, and that's it. You read too many other guys.

On retaining the services of Barry Zito:

Blez: Speaking of Z, there are lots of rumors that he is going to be dealt before the deadline. I know you don't normally comment on trade speculation, but would you like to say anything here.

Beane: Yeah, we have no intention of trading Barry. Barry is 27 years old and such an important part of this team.

On the team's awful May:

Beane: I know this is going to sound very contrary, but I've found this incredible growth process. I'm not worried about it long-term. And short-term is just that, short-term. So I don't react to randomness and when I say randomness, I'm talking about a guy like Rich pulling an oblique or Bobby breaks a rib. Those are random events and I don't make decisions over random events. So I have a sense of peace. If I sat there with the whole team on the field and we were on pace to lose 120 games and I had no way of statistically or visually identifying the problem, then I might lose sleep. But if I know internally why something is wrong, then I'm OK. At that point, it's either fixing it or waiting for it to play out. It's like when you talk about guys hitting. I don't lay up at night wondering, oh gosh, is Chavy going to hit? I don't lose any sleep over it because I know he is going to hit.

More On The Kenny Rogers Situation

It's hard to believe that the national media has missed the boat on the impact of Kenny Rogers' multiple outbursts, but it has. Sean, who is "in-market" as they say, hears the tick-tick-ticking of the Rangers' front office more than we do, and so the Texas kremlinology suggested a cessation of negotiations. Sure enough, we learn today that Texas has halted extension talks with Rogers' agent, Scott Boras. Further, while the team will not take any action directly against Rogers, it will "support whatever the commissioner decides to do", according to owner Tom Hicks.

Rogers' suddenly unquenchable temper has clearly affected his value:

Hart said there had been recent talks with Rogers' agent, Scott Boras, but would be no more until after the season.

"Our vision of where the dollars are and his are too far apart," Hart said. "Compounded with what's happened the last several days, we're going to table any contract talks until the end of the year."